Sponged sheet material



A. c. FISCHER 2,111,113

SPONGED SHEET MATERIAL Original Filed Jan. 20, 1931 we/zarzadzer Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES SPONGE!) SHEET MATERIAL Albert C. Fischer, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 20, 1931, Serial No. 510,010

Renewed May 1, 1936 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved compositionmaterial, and particularly pertains to compressible and elastic material or material which will expand upon release of a compressing force.

The invention, generally described, comprises an' envelope or casing which is flexible and yield= able, but sufiiciently board-like to be self-sustaining and retain its shape for handling and transporting. Within this envelop or casing, there is contained a strip of compressible and 1 elastic material which is cellular and porous, to

contain air and be sluggishly yieldable within the casing. be fabricated from my novel and improved composition material, and its use is practically unlimited in making articles in which an elastic and resilient character is required. The invention is typified by various articles of manufacture, such as floor planking, expansion joint strips, rail fillers, pipe'joint packing, heading and chair seats. Various other articles may be formed embodying the novel and improved structure, such as, sheet material, constructional ma'-.

terial, etc.

For a full and detailed understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a strip embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modified form having a facing layer applied to'one side;

Figures 3 and 4 are still further modified forms of the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the strip shown in Figure 1: Yr

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a rail and rail filler therefor which is another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a packing strip embodying the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of embodying the invention; and

Figure 9 is aplan view of a seat cushion embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, numeral i designates a floor planking or expansion Joint strip comprising an envelope or casing 2 of rubber or the like, having one or more sponged rubber layers 3 inserted therein. The sponge layers contain myriads of cells filled with air which becomes ena beadingstrip trapped within the casing upon insertion of the layers-to make them sluggishly yieldable. As a result, a more or less solid character is provided throughout the strip, giving it the appearance of Various articles of manufacture may solid rubber, yet being inherently compressibleand elastic to a degree approximating that of sponge rubber. To give the strip a maximum degree of rigidity, numerous sponge rubber layers are inserted and separated from each other by walls 4 integrally formed with the casing.

If the planking be used for flooring, one face may advantageously be coated with a paint layer 5 of any desired color.

The composite strip may be formed by associating the inserted layers and easing togetherin a raw unvulcanized condition, and then vulcanizing'the strip. Or the casing may be prevulcanized (Figs. 3 and 4) in the form of a shell 6, with projecting ribs 1 on one face to provide one or more channels 0 in which the. rubber sponge mat'erial 9 may be inserted and vulcanized. Some of the ribs may be perpendicularly disposed and others inclined in respect to the base of the sheet. 20 The modifications in Figs. 6-9 inclusive do not vary substantially from the above described structure, but rather relate to various articlesof manufacture which may embody the invention. There is disclosed in Figure 6 a rail filler l0, contoured to fill the cavity of a rail H, which comprises an envelope i2 having inserted strips 13 of sponge rubber. In Figure '7 a packing strip comprises a. single core it of sponge rubber material enveloped with a rubber casing H5. The beading it (Fig. 8) is of the same general structure as the packing in (Fig. 'l) and difiers only as to the contour or shape in which it is molded.

Numeral i1 designates a chair seat (Fig. 9) which may be of a construction as above described.

While I have shown and described several embodiments ofmy invention, it will be understood that these are for the purpose of illustration'and not as a limitation, for various changes in construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: v

1. A compressible and elastic building or paving planking of board-like character comprising a base of relatively dense vulcanized material, having a plurality of individual elongated pockets with intervening dividing walls between said elongated pockets, and cellular filling layers inserted in the elongated pockets, said cellular filling layers -providing air pockets when said planking is installed in a building or paving construction.

2. A compressible and elastic building or paving planking of board-like character comprising a casing of relatively dense vulcanized material,

having a plurality of individual perforations disposed longitudinally thereof with intervening dividing walls between said perforations, and cellular filling layers inserted in the perforations, said cellular filling layers providing air pockets when said planking is installed'in a building or paving construction.

3. A compressible and elastic building or paving planking of board-like character comprising a casing of relatively dense vulcanized material having perforations disposed longitudinally thereof, cellular filling layers inserted in the perforations, said cellular filling layers providing air pockets when said planking is installed in a building or paving construction, and a decorative covering applied to one face of the casing. I

4. A compressible and elastic building or paving planking of board-like character comprising a casing of relatively dense material having perforations disposed longitudinally thereof, and sponge rubberized material inserted in the perforations, said sponge rubber providing air pockets when said planking is installed in a building or paving construction.

5. A compressible and elastic building or paving planking of board-like character comprising a casing of relativelydense material, a plurality of individual-perforations disposed longitudinally thereof with intervening dividing walls between said perforations, and sponge rubberized material inserted in the perforations, said sponge rubber providing air pockets when said planking is installed in a building or paving construction.

6. A compressible and elastic building or paving planking of board-like character comprising a ,casing of relatively dense material having perforations disposed longitudinally thereof, sponge rubber inserted in the perforations, said sponge rubber providing air pockets when said plankingis installed in a building or paving construction, and a decorative covering applied to one face of the casing 7. A compressible and elastic expansio joint strip of board-like character comprising a casing of relatively dense but yieldable material having perforations disposed longitudinally thereof, said cellular filling layers inserted in the perforations, said cellular filling layers providing air pockets when said strip is installed in a paving construc- 8. A compressible and elastic expansion joint strip of board-like character comprising a casing of relatively dense but yieldable material having perforations disposed longitudinally thereof, and sponge rubber inserted in the perforations, said sponge rubber providing air pockets when said strip is installed in a paving construction.

9.-A compressible and elastic sheet material comprising a base of relatively dense vulcanized material, having a plurality of individual pockets disposed longitudnally thereof, with intervening dividing walls between said pockets, and cellular filling layers in the pockets, said cellular filling layers providing air pockets within the outlines of said sheet material.

10. A compressible and elastic sheet material comprising a casing of relatively dense vulcanized material, having a. plurality of individual perfomaterial, having a plurality of individual elongated pockets having a depth at least half the thickness of the sheet material with intervening dividing walls between said elongated pockets,

and cellular filling layers in the elongated pockets, said cellular filling layers providing air pockets within the outlinesof said sheet material.

12. A compressible and elastic sheet material comprising a base of relatively dense vulcanized material, having a plurality of individual pockets with intervening dividing walls between said by'intervening dividing walls integral with said base, and compressible cellular filling layers in the pockets, said cellular filling layers providing air pockets within the outlines of said sheet material.

ALBERT C. FISCHER. 

